Lifejacket Requirements
Ontario Public Pool Regulations Affecting Wild Waterworks
New regulations under the Health Protection and Promotion act affecting public pools have been put into place by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. As operators of Wild Waterworks we must abide by the changes in the legislation.
As an operator we must follow the regulation which states the following:
- That every owner and every operator of a Class A pool shall ensure that there is a process in place to ensure a guardian or designated person supervises children 10 years of age and under. The process must include a swimming competency test and a method of communicating the requirements of the process O. Reg 494/17, s.13(10) 565
Wave Action pools: typically there is not a place for doing swimming competency tests.
However, compliance with this requirement is expected. If a swimming competency test is not performed there must be a process in place that addresses this. It is required that all users 10 years of age and younger wear a lifejacket/PFD in the wave pool if their swimming competency cannot be determined.
To this end Wild Waterworks will be requiring anyone 10 years of age and under to wear an approved lifejacket/PFD in the Wave Action Pool and the Eazy River in lieu of a swim competency test.
For supervision of those 10 years of age and under, the guardian or designated person 16 years of age or older must be within Arm’s Reach at all times while in the water and the following ratios must be adhered too.
Age Range | Adult to Child Ratio |
---|---|
Children under age 6 | Two children with a lifejacket/PFD to one guardian (2:1) 16 years of age or older |
Children aged 6 to 10 | Eight children with a lifejacket/PFD to one guardian (8:1) 16 years of age or older |
Wild Waterworks will have a lifejacket/PFDs available on first come first serve bases free of charge for patron use. They will be located near the Wave Action Pool on racks. Staff will be available to assist with sizing and answer questions. Wild Waterworks allows patrons to bring in their own approved Lifejacket/PFD/PFD for use in the Wave Action Pool and Eazy River as supplies are limited.
Lifejacket/PFDs must be approved by : Transport Canada, Oceans and Fisheries Canada, Canadian Coast Guard and USA Coast Guard Type I, 2 or III.